Mumbai: The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Tuesday announced to fight alone the forthcoming Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) elections by fielding 115 candidates from 227 seats in the city.

Party’s state unit president MLA Abu Asim Azmi said, “The party would fight civic elections on the agenda of development and equal rights for the poorest of the poor.”

Rayis Shaikh, leader of the party in MCGM, said, “The agenda also includes equitable distribution of water, improvement in education and health sectors.”

Shaikh also alleged that the Municipal Commissioner is an elitist official. “The MCGM takes action on the unauthorised construction in slums but its officials become blind when it comes to unauthorised construction in the high rise buildings. The commissioner should take uniform action and not just target the poor.”

The party has also demanded that a decision must be taken on the extension permit for slums up to 20 feet. Adding to this, Shaikh said, “The poor section of the society should not be a target always. Instead of taking action against slum-dwellers, the MCGM must punish the concerned civic officer in whose tenure the illegal slums were constructed.”

“We have planned for the Govandi development model, and also working on a few more. The party has been successful in initiating the revamp of the Deonar slaughterhouse,” Rayis added.

At present, the party holds nine seats in the civic body. The party is focussing for its better electoral performance in South Mumbai, Jogeshwari, Borivali, Bandra (East), Mankhurd, Shivaji Nagar and the L Ward including Kurla and Saki Naka areas.